Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)

Rode over 250 to Boyer's Station, WV with Dad for the COG Dog Days Rally.

Beautiful views of the Virginia mountains

Through Monterrey

Coming in to the Blue Grass Valley

And over Allegheny Mountain, past Camp Allegheny and into West Virginia

After setting up at Boyer Station, ORexpat arrived from NOVA

Mikeinrichmond, Pops and Guy Young went to dinner at The Station Restaurant

ORexpat and I cooked up our own meal back at camp.

We both took pics of this "Sucker Hole" in the clouds

Riding in to WV, he picked up a State Seal sticker to stick on his WV-Only sticker panniers :rofl

A pair of fawns stumbled through camp.

"Damn nice hammock" it said

The sun sank below the horizon as the questionable clouds drifted in and out over camp. A sprinkle here, a sprinkle there, mostly dry though.

Dad trying out the ergonomics on the GS

Then the camp host brought a wheelbarrow full of wood for the fire. They enjoyed company well into the night around the campfire.

I slept well in my hammock and awoke to a clear and beautifully morning in the upper 60's.

I then led a group of four (Pops, ORexpat and South Side) for a jaunt. We departed about 9:30 or so.

We rode past Green Bank then through the fog over 66 and into Snowshoe for gas. We first stopped at Sharpe's General Store on 219 in Slatyfork for a few pictures.

Need a wash?

Whose great idea was this?:patch

The owner showed up as I was crawling out of his car:uhoh I quickly removed the helmet and began jabbering about the car, how much I liked it, yada yada in hopes he wouldn't be too upset with me. He was very kind and opened up the antique store/old general store for us. It had been in his family since the 1870's. Very cool.

Sweet tooth

Westinghouse fridge and heat plate on top

A very old camera

Transistor Radio

A blackface barber brush

And outside is this neat - often photographed - bear carving.

And the Sharp Kissing Bridge

After scoping it out, we rode up 219 toward the Highland Scenic Hwy

It was sopped in with fog and rain so we continued on toward Marlinton. Did anyone else notice one of my favorite structures in the county?

Continued through Marlinton and out on 39/55

That fog turned in to rain as we went up the mountain toward the Cranberry Wilderness and the southern terminus of the Highland Scenic Hwy.

We rode past the foggy hwy again and down to Falls of Hills Creek

Aw damn :doh No water! What a bummer. Maybe next time folks.

I suspect these ferns are responsible for sucking it all up:wink:

We then rode back in to the rain east to the Nature Center.

Nifty quilt of the area.

They fill their hummingbird feeders up to 3 times a day. Remarkable!

They had a ton of wildlife taxidermy

And a large herpetology exhibit.

Check out the height of that Grizzle compared to the man in the doorway. It was insane!!!

Back on the road, we hit some rain but it quickly cleared as we descended toward Richwood.

Clearing up nicely :ricky

Riding through Richwood

They knew we were coming :devildog

And past the Craigsville Drive In Theatre

I think its time to move on up...

Thankfully, this car turned off Rt 20 after some agonizing miles :huh

Riding through Cottle

A local baseball game at Moore Family Field

And finally out of the forest.

20 is a blast. Just ask ORexpat :augie

And on to Rella's Cafe

I added a little touch of class:thumb

Quit giving the stink eye and eat your salad!

Hey Mike showed up! :wave

Rella's Neice took a group snapshot.
Sneaky

Dad had the Meatloaf special and I the Hamburger

Leaving room for the final slice of Peanut Butter Pie

After saying our goodbyes, we departed back toward camp on 20 into Webster Springs. Here is the river through town. Gauley I believe :dunno

And the town square and county seat.

Caught up to this COG'r and followed him through the fog on 15.

Riding up 66 it got downright dangerous. I had a blast as my well worn 20k tire waxed its way down the slipper pavement. Fun times.

ORexpat and his fog lights.

We then went to the NRAO Green Bank and took their tour. This was my fourth time but I still enjoy it. Free baby :super

Picture on the observation platform before you must shut off your camera.

After this, we took the tour, returned to camp, cooked a nice meal around the picnic table, enjoyed company and went to sleep.

This morning, we packed up, had some breakfast, a few goodbyes and rode back home. Pops and ORexpat split off at Head Waters on 250 riding up toward Sugar Grove and Brandywine while I headed on home, nursing my dying battery. It began the weekend at 12V (riding) and by the end was hovering between 7V and 8V. Fortunately, I made it to the garage and will track down an Odyssey battery this week. Well overdue but I made it.

Thanks for coming along! Next weekend will be Newport News for a friend's grad party then Richmond for Greenfly's BBQ and SPOT handoff.